An "Untouchable"
Becomes a Son of the King

Since Hirla Harish is a Dalit, he is viewed as less than human in his culture. But he knows that he has immense value in the eyes of God.

Hirla Harish is a Dalit—one of the millions of people in India classified as "Untouchable" by the caste system. His position at the rock bottom of the social order was ordained at birth by his religion. It was enforced by his own countrymen who cling to this ancient tradition of scheduled discrimination. But in his heart, Hirla knows that he is not an "Untouchable." Rather, he is a son of the King—the same King who is also his Savior and Lord.

The Bhil: Once Warriors, Now Farmers

Hirla is a Gospel for Asia-supported missionary, serving the Lord in his home state of Rajasthan in Northwest India. Rajasthan is home to more than 7 million Dalits, according to the most recent census of India. Dalits comprise 70 percent of the population in the district where Hirla serves.

The majority of the Dalits Hirla ministers to were born into the Bhil tribe, the third largest tribal group in India. Millions of Bhils live in Rajasthan. The word Bhil is derived from the ancient Sanskrit word bil, meaning "bow." This is a reference to the tribe's traditional occupation as hunters who had precision proficiency with the bow and arrow.

The word Dalit literally means "broken" or "crushed."

The Bhils also have a rich and complex history as fierce warriors who defended India against invasions by enemy armies.

The Bhil's legacy was transformed in more recent years when the government of India gave them some of their traditional hunting lands. The hunters and warriors of yesterday are long gone, replaced by farmers who raise crops and livestock. Those who are not farmers travel to nearby cities and work in construction jobs to earn a few rupees—usually the equivalent of less than $2 per day.

The Bhils are just one tribe in the people group commonly called Adivasis, which literally means "original inhabitants." The latest Indian census reports an Adivasi population of 84 million in India today.

The Bhil's original religious practices included the worship of deities they associated with elements in the natural world around them—such as rocks, trees and lakes. Over time, the Bhils were influenced by the Hindu religion, and to a lesser degree, by Islam. Today, many of Hirla's peers worship more than 35 gods and goddesses. Their worship practices include sacrificing chickens and goats and giving offerings of homemade wine.

Less than Human

Hirla Harish is a Dalit ("Untouchable") and used to live a life of hopelessness. But now he lives in the abundant love and grace offered by Jesus.

When the caste system became a driving force in Indian religion and culture, the Bhils and many other Adivasi tribal groups were classified as "Untouchables." Dalit is a modern word which replaced "Untouchable" in the country's vernacular. The word Dalit literally means "broken" or "crushed."

To understand where Hirla and the Bhils fit into their society, it is helpful to understand the caste system, which categorizes people into one of four groups. The groups are based on occupation, as well as the legend of how the gods created them. The four castes are:

• Brahmins - priests and teachers - created from the mouth of the "divine man"
• Kshatriyas - rulers and soldiers - created from the arms of the "divine man"
• Vaisyas - merchants and traders - created from the thighs of the "divine man"
• Sudras - laborers and servants - created from the feet of the "divine man"

The Dalits do not even have a caste designation. They are seen as not being created from a deity and are considered less than human. Adherence to the caste system is fueled by the traditional religious teachings about reincarnation. A commonly held belief is that those born as Dalits had amassed an enormous amount of sin in their previous lives, and therefore deserve the harsh treatment they receive in order to pay for their transgressions.

A commonly held belief is that those born as Dalits had amassed an enormous amount of sin in their previous lives, and therefore deserve the harsh treatment they receive in order to pay for their transgressions.

Upper caste people believe that even walking in the shadow of a Dalit would cause them to be polluted. Dalits are forced to work at jobs others consider unclean-such as cleaning sewers and disposing of dead bodies. The caste system was officially outlawed in 1950, but little has changed since then. For Dalits, life is a horrifying series of degradations.

Effectively Ministering

Hirla always accepted his Dalit classification without complaint, but his mind was full of questions.

"Why are these people creating divisions among human beings?" he wondered. "We have the same blood. He is a human being and I am a human being. So why the difference?"

But because he was a Dalit, Hirla was forced to suppress these thoughts and feelings. He grew frustrated and sad. When he became a follower of Christ, Hirla made a conscious decision to cast the burden of his birthright on the Lord.

Hirla Harish and his wife, Gitanjali who are both Dalits, spend hours in prayer for their fellow Dalits.

"I said, 'Okay, I am leaving it in God's hands. Then, He will do something about it,' " Hirla decided.

God honored Hirla for trusting him with the burden, and soon he began to see himself in a different light.

"I know in my heart I am not the person that people consider me to be," Hirla affirms. "Now I am a son of the Creator! I am a son of the King!"

Although his position in society remains unchanged, being a Dalit no longer holds Hirla back. He effectively ministers to the Bhils in his district because he understands their pain and can empathize with their suffering. That is why he focuses on his one goal in life—to tell people that Jesus loves them, even though everyone else tells them they are worthless.

"Even though all the people consider me the lowest part of the lowest caste, I am an ambassador for Jesus Christ," he declares.

• Hirla ministers in Rajasthan, a state that is home to many of India's leading tourist destinations. Click here to learn more about Rajasthan.
• Read about Gospel for Asia's committment to sharing the message of God's salvation and redemption with the Dalits.
• Click here to read about how native missionaries like Hirla are spreading the Gospel.